Hydraulically propelled lifeboat



B88281832. C, M, MOTTE 8 1,891,828

HYDRAULI CALLY PROPELLED LI FEBOAT Original Filed March 6, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ooooooooooooooooo o-oooooooooo000ooo O O :7. 12 y O o m /lV//f/l/T/. @arles/Mm 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wil/011101111111111vll/111111111117111,l1/111,`

C. M. MOTTE HYDRAULICALLY PROPELLED LIFEBOAT -i-Il 35 FW. a

Original Filed March 6, 1931 lli-ill Dec. 20, 1932.

Patented Dec. 20, 1932 x UNITED vSTATES asetszs CHARLES MARrUs MOTTE, or jrARis, nennen HYDRAULICALLY PROPELLED LIFEBOAT Application iled March 6, 1931, Serial No. 520,646, and in France March 6, 1930. Renewed May 4, 1932.

I Improved life boats actually in use are of two types, the rst type is propelled by oars, andthe second type is propelled by one or more internal combustion engines with, as propelling means, one or two screw propellers, preferably arranged -under housings.

Although these two types of boats have proved to be of great robustness and hold the sea well, they still do not 'allow to ensure the complete security desired by the International Life-Saving Societies. The conditions of security depend only on the accuracy of the members used which are ytoo often paralyzed, either by shocks, cordage, or by drifting floating bodies, fatally exposing the rescuers to the mercy of the elements, notwithstanding their devotion and heroism.

This explains all Vthe efforts made by all the great international organizations for discovering new improvements capable of improving the means used, but it is to be noted that all the researches made have been limited to known forms of parts, which condition renders nearly impossiblethe provision of meansallowing to overcome the difliculties of security. y

The present invention relates to a new water-tight life boat, adapted to remedy all the difficulties above mentioned, while ensuring to the crew and ship-wrecked persons the maximum security.

Its main qualities are:

1.-Great stability on the roughest sea, this boat, owing to its shape, being unable to capsize.

2.-Water-tightness and unsubmersibility.

3.-Great robustness owing to its shape.

4.-An unknown navigability and security, owing to its propelling and steering means.

5.-A high carrying capacity.

6.-A small draft.

A form of carrying out the invention is illustrated, by way of example, in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a life boat 1n use. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same life boat at rest.

Fig. 3 is a corresponding plan View thereof. 50 Fig. 4 is a front end view of the said life boat. f Y

- Fig. 5 is a rear end view-of the life boat.

Fig. 6 is an underside plan view thereof. Fig. 7 is a cross vertical section made according to line A-A of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal vertical section. As illustrated in the drawing, the hull of the life boat is constituted by a sheet metal body l, of uniform thickness, in the shape of a frustum of circular cross-section, terminatin g at its front end in a half-spherical compartment 2, and at its other end, in a second half-spherical compartment 3. This hull has a double wall, on its lower part` as shown in Fig. 7,and is stayed or braced throughout its length to constitute a fluid-tight compartment in case of damage at any point of the lower portion of the hull. 70vl This hull is moreover so shaped as to present in its upper plane three curved transverse channels 4;, 5 and 6, and, between the front channel @and the middle channel 5, a

chamber 7, the upper horizontal wall of which 75 is constituted by a water-tight panel 8.

A bridge 9 supported by uprights 10, leads to the panel 8 of the chamber 7, and a ladder 11 allows to have access to the bridge 9 from the poop of the boat.

A tubular mast 12 is pivoted on the chamber 7, so that it can be laid down on the Y bridge A9 and held in its normal vertical position bysuitably arranged shrouds 13.

This life boat is provided with two pilots cockpits: one 14, at the exterior. located at the bow in a cavity of suitable shape of the hull, adapted to isolate the man at the wheel and t'o'alsoshelter the entrance to the water-` tight doors 15, which allow the pilot to enter the hull for fulfilling the same function within the boat at the second pilots cockpit.

The hull thus constituted, is entirely made of metal, completely water-tight and is provided with port-holes 16.

A horizontal stabilizing' plane 17 acting at the same time as an anti-rolling plane, is secured on the outer wall of the hull, at the level of the water line.

Three other vertical planes 18, secured on the front halfsspherical compartment. constitute fenders against shocks, and can, if need be, form supports for removable parts, such as wheels or caterpillars, so that the boat can move and enter the water by itself.

The hull is internally divided, by means of bulkheads.v into four water-tight compartments 19, 20, 21 and 22 which can communicate with each other through water-tight doors 23, 24 and 25. -The first compartment 19, located at the bow and to which the pilot has access through one of the doors 15, encloses the second pilots cockpit 26, allowing to ensure steering from the interior of the boat and to shelter a part of the crew for the distance to be covered for reaching the place' of the wreck. The second compartment 20 constitutes the engine-room, to which access may be had through the panel 8 or through the doors 15. The third compartment 21 can be reserved for the crew and the persons rescued, as well as the fourth compartment 22 which, moreover, constitutes a store-room for :food and life-saving appliances. Access may be'had to these three compartments 20, 21 and 22 either through the ladder 27. when coming from the bridge 9 and by opening the watertight panel 8, or by opening a second panel 28 which closes an opening to which leads, in the compartment 22, a staircase 29.

The people rescued who have entered the life boat through the stern, but who. are unable to ascend to the bridge, can reach theV panel 28 by following the stepped passage 30 provided on the inclined wall of the hull, and enter the compartment 21 through the door 25.

The driving power is supplied by two heavy oil or gasoline enginesSO, adapted to drive the turbines of hydraulic propelling units 30 and 31, having a fixed casing; These propelling units are two in number (Fig. 6) andare arranged on either side of the longitudinal axis of the boat, being placed in recesses provided in the bottom of the hull and supplied through a central water intake 32. These propelling units, provided with blades, allow to ensure forward and backward running, by causing the positions of the blades to vary through driving members independent from the engines.

A third propelling unit 33, having a vertical axis and an adjustable casing is arranged within the hull and in the middle portion of the saine; it allows to ensure changes of direction without a rudder. The life boat can however be provided with two emergency rudders 34 (Fig. 3).

Finally, the tubular mast used, is preferably provided with an electric lighting device comprising a headlight 35 projecting the light rays in front of the boat and a circular series of lamps with a reflector 36, lighting the bridge 9 and the whole of the boat.

From the foregoing the important advantages and high degree of safety ofthe present life boat thus devised will be easily understood.

Owing to its shape, it offers the minimum head resistance and it cannot capsize.

Its stability is automatically ensured by its shape and by the combination of its stabilizing planes which extend to the stern and of its fender planes arranged at the bow, the centre of buoyancy and the centre of gravity rigorously passing through the same point.

As far as the capsizing effects byf side thrusts are concerned, they are annihilated by the curved transverse channels oiiering'a high resistance. l 'y The general arrangement of this-shape of hull completely water-tight, allows the rescuers to take the sea whilst being in the interior of the boat, the latter being provided with a double steering wheel. VWhen thexlife boat has reached the place of the wreck, the pilot returns toy the outer lsteering wheel and the crew stand on the bridge and on the transverse channels. Y

Owingl to the shape of the boat, its water line is within arm-length and the ship,

wrecked people can be rescued without greatV effort and with less risk than on usual boats.

Finally the'tubular mast can ensure circulation of the air in the compartments and evacuation of the gases from the engineroom; it can moreover carry aerials for wireless apparatus.

It is to be understood that the life boat illustrated is given by way of example only and that the dimensions, details of construction, method of propulsion and accessories can be varied without departing' thereby from the principle of the invention.

Whatl claim as my invention and to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A life boat comprising a hull entirely made of metal, completely water-tight and in the shape of a frustum of circular cross-section, half-spherical compartments at the bow and stern respectively, three curved transverse channels on the upper plane of this hull, a cavity of special shape for constituting the pilots cockpit, and adouble wall on the lower portion of the hull, this double wall forming a water-tight compartment in case of damage at any point of the hull.

v2. Av life boat comprising a hull entirely made of metal, completely ywater-tight and desire in the shape of a frustum of circular crosssection, half-spherical compartments at the bow and stern respectively, three curved transverse channels on the upper plane of this hull, a cavity of special shape for constituting the pilots cockpit, and a double wall on the lower portion of the hull, this double wall forming a water-tight compartment in case of damage at any point of the hull, an emergency bridge supported by uprights and arranged above the upper plane of the hull, a ladder giving access from the stern of the boat to the said bridge, a tubular mast pivoted at its base on the hull, an electric lighting device supported by the said mast.

3. A life boat comprising a hull entirely made of metal, completely water-tight and in the shape of a frustum of circular crosssection, half-spherical compartments at the bow and stern respectively, three curved transverse channels on the upper plane of this hull, a cavity of special shape for constituting the pilots cockpit, and a double wall on the lower portion of the hull, this double wall forming a water-tight compartment in ca se of damage at any point of the hull, three vertical planes secured at the bow of the'bo-at for ensuring through independent driving i members, the steering of the boat. y

In witness whereor` I have hereunto set my hand. i

CHARLES MARIUS MOTTE. Y

on the half-spherical compartment and on a portion of the length of the hull, a horizontal plane secured at the stern and at the level of the water-line for ensuring stability in case of rolling and acting at the same time as fender, the said vertical planes being moreover utilizable as support for wheels or caterpillars allowing the boat to move and to enter the sea by itself.

4. A life boat comprising a hull entirely made of metal, completely water-tight and in the shape of a rustum of circular cross-section, half-spherical comp-artmentsat the bow and stern respectively, three curved transverse channels on the upper plane of this hull, a cavity of special shape. for constituting the pilots cockpit and a double wall on the lower portion of the hull, this double wall forming a water-tight compartment in case of damage at any point of the hull, bulkheads dividing the interior of the hull into four compartments, the lirst enclosing a second pilots cockpit,'the second constituting the engine-room, the third being reserved for the people rescued and the crew, and the fourth forming a chamber for the people rescued and a store for food, all these compartments communicat-ing with each other and with the exterior through water-tight doors.

5. A life boat comprising a hull entirely ina-de of metal, completely watertight and in the shape of a frustum of circular cross-section, half-spherical compartments at the bow and stern respectively, three curved transverse channels on the upper plane of this hull, a cavity of special shape for constituting the p-ilots cockpit, and a double wall on the lower port-ion of the hull, this double wall forming 

